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The start of a new NFL season is now just two days away and in my attempt to increase the number of new articles on this website, I thought I’d bring back one of the few articles I published last year on American football. It was a mixed bag for the five sides I thought would be most interesting in the 2022 season: the Giants overperformed and made the playoffs, the Jags had one of the best comebacks in playoff history against the Chargers, the Lions had a rollercoaster of a season, and the Colts and Broncos were very interesting in the worst possible way. What will be in store for these five teams is hard to say, but I’m very intrigued to see how they’ll do in 2023.
Carolina Panthers
It’s safe to say that the five-year reign of David Tepper in Carolina has so far been a failure. In that time, he got rid of Cam Newton and Ron Rivera and has gone a 29-53. Carolina’s playoff drought lasts exactly as long as his time running the team. Tepper’s first big swing in the coaching department failed as Matt Rhule was let go after week five last season, his second swing is for a head coach with NFL experience. Frank Reich went 40-33-1 in Indianapolis and showed signs of promise despite being with a Colts side who don’t exude great leadership at the moment. It’s an interesting move for Carolina and they gave Reich his QB of the future when they traded up to the number one pick to select Bryce Young from Alabama, with a potential star receiver in Jonathan Mingo selected in the second round (I was also a big fan of picks Chandler Zavala in the fourth round and Jammie Robinson in the fifth round). I’m going to risk jinxing their season like I did with the Giants, but Carolina are not going to make the playoffs (bar being the best of the worst in the NFC South), however, this is their most promising rebuild under Tepper and Bryce Young could play some very interesting football this year.
Denver Broncos
The only side who make the article in back-to-back years, the Broncos were in fact very interesting last year in the same macabre way that a car crash is. Denver were horrific under Nathanial Hackett (more on him later) and the Broncos new ownership group decided that they didn’t want a repeat in 2023. To try and ensure that, they’ve gone for the big fish, bringing Sean Peyton back into the league after an underwhelming stint at Fox which everyone knew was going to be short term. His job is to turn Russell ‘Broncos Country, Let’s Ride’ Wilson back into the quarterback he was in Seattle. Since they gave his former team most of their draft picks, the Broncos have mainly focused on free agents: Mike McGlinchey signed from the 49ers for $87.5 million, Ben Powers from the Ravens for $51.5 million and Zach Allen from the Cardinals for $48 million lead a busy period for the Broncos. New owners, new head coach, and a hopefully new level of competence. Peyton came out swinging in the offseason with barbs against Hackett, he now needs his team to do the same on the field.
New York Jets
I’m not just picking sides who were on Hard Knocks, but the Jets are interesting ahead of the new season. The main reason for that is of course Aaron Rodgers, who takes a leaf out of the Brett Favre retirement tour by going to the Big Apple (actually East Rutherford, New Jersey but who cares) and to a side who already had personality to them thanks to Robert Saleh. Rodgers is joined in making the move from Wisconsin by Allen Lazard whilst Dalvin Cook comes from NFC North rivals Minnesota. Nathaniel Hackett is also at MetLife Stadium following one of the worst coaching spells in NFL history that was called out in the offseason by Sean Payton for no reason whatsoever. All in all, the Jets should be a Super Bowl contender this year, especially if star players like Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson continue to improve.
San Francisco 49ers
No Purdy no party. Last season we wondered if Purdy would be able to beat Trey Lance to the starting QB job ahead of the new season and we got our answer when the former third overall pick Lance was traded to the Cowboys in return for a fourth-round pick. This is a player who the 49ers spent three first-round picks on, and who played in eight games (hampered due to injury). Purdy was great last season, but we all know about second season syndrome and teams have more tape on how he plays in Kyle Shanahan’s offence, so he’s not a lock to continue at the same level he was at last season. It would also be nice to see what this 49ers side could achieve if the football gods decide to stop smiting them with injuries like they did last year, that may be the difference between getting back to the Super Bowl and flaming out in the playoffs with someone like Josh Johnson at QB.
Washington Commanders
The first year Washington have been interesting since I was born, the curse of Dan Snyder has been lifted and hopefully replaced by an adult with a brain in his nut. I’ll admit that there isn’t as much interesting about their team as there is with the other four in this article, unless Sam Howell becomes the new Brock Purdy. I do like watching Brian Robinson and Terry McLaurin whilst Andrew Wylie is a good free agent addition from Kansas City. Washington have a tough challenge in the NFC East: Philly are arguably the best side in the conference, the Giants made the playoffs and will improve this year, and Dallas are really good in the regular season. No matter what happens on the field though, the mood in DC will be far more positive this season than it has been in years prior.
The Sports Blitz 